CF Benidorm produced a fantastic display of character and determination to claim all three points on the road, defeating Benigànim CF 4-2 in an entertaining Lliga Comunitat encounter on Saturday afternoon.
Sergio Mora’s side were pegged back twice by the hosts but refused to settle for a point, with captain Pato delivering the decisive moment in the 86th minute before Marcos added a fourth in stoppage time to complete an excellent away performance.
Team news
Heading into the fixture, Sergio Mora made two changes to the side that had featured in the previous outing.
Bipe returned from suspension to take his place in the starting XI, while Daniel Adom was also brought into the side. Luis Castillo dropped to the bench, with Sergi Sempere also making way.
There was still no place for Cuesta, who was continuing his recovery as he edged closer to a return. Benidorm travelled to Benigànim looking to build on their recent performances and bring home another important result.
First half
Benidorm started positively and were rewarded for their efforts in the 27th minute with a moment of real quality from Alejandro.
The midfielder produced a stunning finish from around 25 yards, unleashing an effort that flew beyond the goalkeeper and into the top-left corner. It was a spectacular strike and gave the visitors a deserved 1-0 advantage.
However, the hosts responded just before the interval.
In the 43rd minute, Benigànim found an equaliser following a scramble on the goal line. Arcana initially produced a couple of excellent saves to keep Benidorm in front, but the goalkeeper was unable to prevent the final rebound from finding the net.
The sides headed into the break level at 1-1, despite Alejandro’s outstanding opener.
Second half
Benidorm could hardly have asked for a better start to the second half.
Just three minutes after the restart, Álvaro restored the visitors’ advantage, finding the net in the 48th minute to make it 2-1.
However, the lead would not last. Benigànim once again found a way back into the contest in the 58th minute, bringing the scoreline to 2-2 and setting up an intriguing final half-hour.
There was further drama in the 74th minute when the referee initially showed a yellow card to a Benigànim player on the bench before subsequently producing a red card for the same individual. As the dismissal was for a player on the bench, the match continued with 11 players on each side on the pitch.
With the game finely balanced, Benidorm needed somebody to step forward.
And their captain delivered.
Pato delivers when it matters
With just four minutes of normal time remaining, Pato produced a massive moment for Sergio Mora’s side.
The Benidorm captain found the back of the net in the 86th minute to put the visitors back in front at 3-2. It was a huge goal in the context of the match, giving Benidorm the opportunity to take all three points after twice seeing their advantage disappear.
The hosts were unable to find another response, and Benidorm made sure of the victory deep into stoppage time.
In the 94th minute, Marcos finished off a counter-attacking move to make it 4-2, putting the result beyond doubt and sparking celebrations among the travelling Benidorm support.
Full-time: Benigànim CF 2-4 CF Benidorm
It was a fantastic afternoon for CF Benidorm, who showed tremendous character to overcome a difficult challenge and secure another important three points away from home.
Alejandro’s stunning first-half strike, Álvaro’s quick response after the interval, Pato’s crucial late intervention and Marcos’ stoppage-time finish provided the goals in an entertaining encounter.
Being pegged back twice could easily have unsettled the visitors, but they continued to push and ultimately found the answers when it mattered most.
For Sergio Mora and his players, this was more than just another away victory. It was a demonstration of the resilience and attacking quality within the squad.
Four goals, three points and another memorable afternoon for CF Benidorm.
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